ashmoreashmore - vital! magazine® · 2 may/june 2014 3 ts® 2013 ammed! y age 13 age 10 age 3p3 fe...

V I T A L I N F O R M A T I O N F O R A V I T A L L I F E !

THE MAGAZINE FOR ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS®

M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 4

Choose HappinessChoose Happiness0

Pushing Off RetirementPushing Off RetirementPage 7Page 3

Think F.A.S.TThink F.A.S.T

Ashmore...Ashmore...the Triad’s Rare Find

2 M AY /J U N E 2 0 1 4 www.Vi ta lMagOnl ine.com 3



S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 3

Don’t Get Scammed! Page 13We Hate Lazy Money

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FightFight Like a Girl

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N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3

Have Some FunHave Some FunPage 14

The Legalities of Aging

Page 13Page 4P 4

Protecting Your Memory

PLANS CHANGE, PLANS CHANGE, PEOPLE CHANGE. PEOPLE CHANGE. How Much Money How Much Money

Can You Save? Can You Save? Medicare Annual Open Enrollment October 15th – December 7th

Pages 8 & 9

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Make Your Make Your New Year’s New Year’s Resolutions Resolutions StickStick



J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 4

Caregiver’s CornerPage 12

Bone Up on Osteoporosis

Page 5Page 3

Marlo ThMarlo Thomas Speaks from from the Heart

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“Smart” “Smart” TechnologyTechnology

Open Your Open Your World to World to

PossibilitiesPossibilities



M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 4

Gardening TimePage 11

Diamonds are ForeverPage 7

Page 5Goin’ Green

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E D I TO R S’ L E T T E R

NORTH CAROLINA • MAY/JUNE 2014

TO YO U R H E A LT H

Unsolicited material is welcomed and is considered

intended for publication. Such material will become

the property of the magazine and will be subject

to editing. Material will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Vital! Magazine

will not knowingly accept any advertising in violation of

U.S. equal opportunity law.

E D I T O R S I N C H I E FKaryn Cortez

[email protected]

Linda [email protected]

C R E AT I V E A RT D I R E C T O R

Heidi Atwell

C O V E R S T O RY P H O T O G R A P H Y

Sandy Harnden

Vital! Magazine4556 Simon Road

Wilmington, DE 19803302-764-6642

www.vitalmagonline.com

Vital! Magazine is published monthly by Envision Publishing.

Articles are intended for general information purposes

only and should not replace your personal

advisor’s advice.Any reproduction in part or in whole of any part of this publication is prohibited without express written

consent of the publisher.

The Magazine for Active Older Adults®

Interested inAdvertising?

We’d LOVE toHear From You!

Call 336-292-3875

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0

Gardening TimeGardrdening TiTimePage 11Page 11

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Page 5Page 5age 5age 5age 5aPage 5age 5ePage 55Goin’GoiGoGoin’ GrGoin’ GGoin’ GrGoin’ Groin GreeneeneenennnnGGGGGGGoooooiiiiinnnnnn’’n’ GGGGrrrreereeeeeennnnnn

We’re Going Nationwide!If you or someone you know has ever dreamed of owning your own business, now is the time!

Call 302-764-6642 to find out how to publish Vital! in YOUR community.

KARYN CORTEZ AND LINDA PRITCHETT

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vitalmagonline.com/subscribe or call

302-764-6642

KNOWYOU

KNOW YOU NEED THEM.

WHICH ONES.

WE KNOW WHICH ONES.

Medicare accepted.

No appointment needed.

PNEUMONIA SHINGLES MORE

EVERY DAY*

IMMUNIZATIONS

AVAILABLE

* Vaccines subject to availability. Not all vaccines available in all locations. State, age and health condition-related restrictions may apply.

Key Facts of Stroke■ Stroke is the leading cause of serious

long-term disability in the United States.

■ Every year, about 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke. About 610,000 of these are first or new strokes. About 185,000 people who survive a stroke go on to have another.

■ Recurrent stroke is frequent; about 25 percent of people who recover from their first stroke will have an-other stroke within 5 years.

■ Someone in the U.S. has a stroke ev-ery 40 seconds.

■ Every four minutes someone dies of stroke.

■ About 40 percent of stroke deaths occur in males, and 60 percent in females.

■ There are 7 million stroke survivors living in the U.S. today and two-thirds of them are disabled.

■ Strokes can and do occur at ANY age. Nearly one quarter of strokes occur under the age of 65.

■ The risk of stroke more than dou-bles each decade after the age of 55.

■ In one second 32,000 brain cells die; in 59 seconds an ischemic stroke will have killed 1.9 million brain cells.

■ Ischemic strokes, which occur when blood clots block the blood vessels to the brain, are the most common type of stroke, representing about 87% of all strokes.

■ Up to 70% of strokes seen in the hospital are ischemic, while the re-maining 30% are a mixture of tran-sient ischemic attacks and hemor-rhagic strokes.

■ In 2012, stroke related medical costs and disability cost Americans an es-timated $75 billion.

■ 80% of strokes are preventable.

Although stroke is a disease of the brain, it can affect the entire body. A common disability that results from stroke is complete paralysis on one side of the body. A related disability that is not as debilitating as paralysis is

one-sided weakness.

Stroke may cause problems with thinking, awareness, attention, learn-ing, judgment, and memory. Stroke survivors often have problems under-standing or forming speech. A stroke can also lead to emotional problems. Stroke patients may have difficulty controlling their emotions or may ex-press inappropriate emotions, while many stroke patients experience de-pression.

Stroke survivors may also have numb-ness or strange sensations. The pain is often worse in the hands and feet and is made worse by movement and tem-perature changes, especially cold tem-peratures.

Stroke-Time Lost is Brain Lost

Signs of StrokeAll of the major symptoms of stroke appear suddenly and without warn-ing, and they are often not painful but still need to be taken seriously. If you think someone is experiencing any of these symptoms, or you are experienc-ing them, call 9-1-1 immediately.

The most common symptoms of stroke can be remembered by the ac-ronym FAST:

■ F = Face: Is one side of the face drooping down?

■ A = Arm: Can the person raise both arms, or is one arm weak?

■ S = Speech: Is speech slurred or confusing?

■ T = Time: Time is critical!! Call 9-1-1 immediately!

Other, less common symptoms of the most common type of stroke are:

■ sudden trouble seeing,■ sudden dizziness, and■ generalized weakness.

If you or someone you are with have any one of these symptoms, it’s impor-tant to act FAST and call 911, as soon as possible!

May is National Stroke Awareness Month

Karyn and Linda

It’s May and we have lots to

celebrate this month. Sunday,

May11th is Mother’s Day

and we celebrate Memorial Day

on May 26th, remembering our

Military fallen. May is also Older

Americans Month, honoring the

most important people on God’s

green earth (next to Mother’s of

course). This year’s theme is Safe

Today. Healthy Tomorrow.

Older adults are at a much higher

risk of unintentional injury

and even death than the rest of

the population. Unintentional

injuries to this group result

in at least 6 million medically

treated injuries and more than

30,000 deaths every year. With

a focus on safety during Older

Americans Month, we hope to

raise awareness about this critical

issue. By doing our part and

being conscious of safety, we all

can live longer, healthier, more

independent lives.

May is also National Stroke Awareness Month. Turn to page 3 to learn the signs and how to work F.A.S.T. Turn to page 5 for tips on protecting your bones and kidneys with healthy food choices. On page 6 you can learn to “Choose Happiness” and on page 11 we’re Goin’ Green.

And this month we are high-lighting a special guest. We’d like to introduce you to Ashmore Rare Coins and Metals. From unique and rare coins to top dollar for precious metals like gold, silver and platinum, learn all about the wonderful services they provide to our community on pages 8 and 9, and why they are our “rare find.”

We hope you have a great month and you take the opportunity to remember and to thank all those that have made an impact in your life, either directly or indirectly. Have a happy and grateful May!


TO YO U R H E A LT H

Happy Friendly

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“My heartfelt gratitude to all of you for the truly outstanding care which you have given me this past year. Your infi nite patience, genuine warmth and good humor, combined with your reassuring gentleness, have calmed even my most anxious moments.”

— Sincerely, L. Alexander

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You’ve heard it before, yet it bears repeat-

ing: Staying active and fit is a great way to

improve and maintain mental and physical

aptitude, and it’s especially important during the

later stages of life. However, as people get older,

they typically engage in less physical activity, cit-

ing reasons including fear of falling, fear for their

general safety, a lack of transportation and limited

equipment or facilities.

It’s important to realize, though, that exercise

doesn’t have to be backbreaking to provide sub-

stantial benefits. Activities like walking, garden-

ing, dancing and swimming are great ways to ex-

ercise without putting too much toll on your body.

There are many physical and mental benefits to exercising and staying active.

■ Better sleep: People who exercise regularly

tend to fall asleep more quickly, experience

deeper sleep stages and wake up fewer times

throughout the night.

■ Enhanced brain activity: Exercise encourages

more positive brain activity, which helps to pre-

vent memory loss and may slow the further de-

velopment of brain disorders like Alzheimer’s.

■ Improved blood pressure: Exercise lowers

the risk of developing high blood pressure.

■ It feels good: Exercise increases endorphins in

the brain, which help to decrease anxiety and re-

duce depressed feelings.

As people get older they tend to lose physical per-

formance in four main areas: strength, balance,

flexibility and endurance. Exercising for only a

short time every day can seriously reduce the rate

at which these attributes diminish over time.

It’s important to check with your doctor before starting any exercise plan. Keep it fun and you’re more likely to stick with it!

■ If you have mobility issues, look for a class de-

signed for older adults. You’ll enjoy both the

physical and the social benefits of the class!

■ Make sure to do a 5-10 minute warm-up and

stretching routine before every work out session.

■ Try to find an exercise partner. You’ll keep each

other motivated and safe during your workouts.

■ Try to exercise at least 3 times per week with a

mix of both aerobic and anaerobic exercises.

■ Make sure to drink enough water before and af-

ter workouts to avoid dehydration.

■ Eat a healthy diet to support your exercise plan.

Make sure to eat fruits and vegetables high in

water, foods with protein to help rebuild and

repair muscles, and dairy or juices that contain

calcium to sustain bone mass.

It’s Time to Get On the Exercise Bandwagon

By Melissa Coats, ND

Dietary Guidelines Too much calcium and you might

hurt your kidneys; not enough and

you risk weakening your bones. Re-

search has shown that vegetarians

tend to have a lower incidence of

osteoporosis than meat-eaters. This

could be because a vegetarian diet is

high in calcium and potassium, low

in phosphorus, and lower in protein

than a meat-based diet, all of which

aid the prevention of osteoporosis. To

prevent osteoporosis, then, choose a

diet that consists primarily of fruits,

vegetables, grains and non-fat dairy

products. Drawing on this and other

knowledge gained through clinical

observation, here are some recom-

mendations to help your bones.

Eat More:Foods High in Calcium■ Canned sardines and canned

salmon (with the bones)

■ Non-fat yogurt

■ Kale

■ Mustard, collard & turnip greens

■ Celery

■ Dates, figs, and raisins

■ Broccoli

■ Soybeans, tofu

■ Sesame seeds

■ Carob flour

■ Black strap molasses

■ Sea vegetables

Women over the age of 35 who ingest

less than 1 gram of calcium daily (1.5

grams for postmenopausal women)

are often in negative calcium bal-

ance. Studies indicate that a high

calcium intake during childhood and

adolescence may reduce the risk of

osteoporosis. It is uncertain whether

calcium supplementation reduces

bone loss after menopause. The re-

sponsiveness may depend on age. It

appears that calcium supplementa-

tion in the first 5 years of menopause

attenuates but doesn’t stop bone loss

from the long bones and has little ef-

fect on the spine. Calcium supple-

mentation should be combined with

vitamin D to increase absorption.

Foods High in Vitamin K (note: if you are on a blood thinner

you should not eat these foods with-

out consulting your physician.)

■ Broccoli

■ Alfalfa

■ Green leafy vegetables

■ Oats

■ Tomatoes

■ Rye

■ Wheat

■ Cauliflower

Osteoporotic patients have a de-

creased mineralization of bone. A

deficiency of vitamin K can lead to

impaired mineralization of bone due

to inadequate osteocalcin synthesis.

Osteoporotic patients generally have

low serum vitamin K values. In one

study, supplemental vitamin K re-

duced urinary calcium loss in post-

menopausal women with excess uri-

nary calcium secretion.

Foods High in Zinc ■ Wheat germ

■ Seafood

■ Pumpkin seeds

■ Nutritional yeast

■ Sunflower seeds

■ Soybeans

■ Foods grown in organically

enriched soils

Low serum levels of zinc have been

reported in osteoporotic patients.

Because Americans generally eat be-

low the RDA of zinc, supplementa-

tion is recommended.

Foods High in Magnesium ■ Whole wheat

■ Nuts

■ Bran

■ Seeds


■ Asparagus

■ Celery

■ Cabbage

■ Bananas

■ Prunes

■ Oranges

■ Cashews

■ Legumes

■ Almonds

As much as 50% of a body’s magne-

sium is found in the bones. Studies

indicate that a magnesium deficiency

is common in women with osteopo-

rosis and is associated with abnormal

calcification of bone. Although these

foods should be okay, magnesium

supplements can be harmful to com-

promised kidneys, so ask your phy-

sician if you have restrictions if you

have kidney issues. If you do have

kidney issues, avoid asparagus and,

particularly with later stage kidney

disease, rutabagas.

Foods High in Manganese■ Celery

■ Bananas

■ Beets

■ Egg yolks

■ Bran

■ Legumes

■ Pineapple

■ Asparagus


■ Whole grains

Manganese deficiency is common

in women with osteoporosis. A de-

ficiency may accelerate bone loss as

well as result in defective bone for-

mation. Manganese stimulates pro-

duction of mucopolysaccharides,

which are responsible for providing

a structure for calcification to occur.

Foods High in Potassium ■ Fruit (bananas)

■ Raisins

■ Potatoes

■ Halibut

■ Salmon

■ Almonds

■ Carrots

■ Soybeans

Studies show that potassium is im-

portant in reducing urinary calcium

excretion.

Avoid:Alcohol – Alcohol decreases intesti-

nal calcium absorption and vitamin

D levels. It is also associated with hip

fractures due to an increased number

of falls.

Coffee or black tea – Coffee and

tea increase urinary and fecal calcium

excretion. Heavy caffeine drinkers

(> 2 cups of coffee/tea per day) are

twice as likely to suffer hip fractures.

High fat foods – A high fat diet de-

creases calcium absorption.

High protein foods/meats – A

high-protein diet increases calcium

excretion.

Salt – Salt increases calcium excre-

tion. It can also cause increased fluid

retention, which is hard on your kid-

neys.

Sugar – Sugar increases peaks in

urinary calcium excretion. It is also

inflammatory and harmful to kidney

health.

Smoking – The bone mineral con-

tent of smokers is 15-30% lower in

women, and smokers are twice as

likely to have osteoporosis as non-

smokers.

Your kidneys will thank you when

they don’t have to process and clear

these additives and foods.

Exercise:Weight bearing exercise such as

walking protects against bone loss.

To be effective, exercise at least 3

times per week for an hour. Studies

show that exercise can actually in-

crease bone mass in postmenopausal

women. It will also help with blood

flow and circulation to help your

kidneys.

Consult your physician if you have any

questions regarding osteoporosis or any

of these recommendations for kidney

health.

Sources and references

available by emailing ques-

[email protected].

Dr. Melissa Coats is a li-

censed naturopathic physi-

cian in Scottsdale, AZ at

Naturopathic Specialists,

LLC (www.listenandcare.com). If you

have a question for Dr. Coats, email her

at [email protected].

Protect Your Bones, Protect Your Kidneys, With Healthy Food Choices


TO YO U R W E A LT H

Do Not Face Your Estate Plans and Your Life’s Most Diffi cult Decisions Alone

From government regulations and taxes, to fi nancial planning and health care decisions, as well as Medicaid planning and end-of-life choices, our seniors have more issues to tackle than ever.

TODAY’S LAWS ARE NOT ON YOUR SIDE

Let David Mclean, Elder Law Attorney and Counselor at Law help you achieve your wishes, providing for you, your loved ones, and planning for your Medicaid needs.

David B. McLean, Attorney and Counselor at Law1100 Revolution Mill Dr., Studio 2, Greensboro, NC 27405Tel 336.455.9500 | www.mclean-elderlaw.com

By Melissa Timm

As an ICU nurse, the death

and dying process was all too

familiar and real for me. I

saw some families and patients who

were prepared for it - they knew they

had a terminal illness – but for many,

the event was sudden and family

members were left with the incred-

ibly difficult task of deciding what

their loved one would want without

being able to talk to them about it.

End of life care is a foreign concept

to most of us. We think we’re too

healthy or too young to consider that

sort of thing. We also have a tenden-

cy to think we are the one exception

to the rule - that death won’t happen

to me.

But death is a natural progression to

this life we live. And we should talk

about it. It’s all around us in mov-

ies, video games, and the news, yet

we don’t really talk about it. I think

a common denominator among us all

is the desire to lead a life well lived.

And to me, a life well lived should

end in a dignified death.

End of life care planning should start

when we are in good health, both

mentally and physically. Early on,

we should have conversations with

our family members, loved ones, and

health care providers about the type

of treatment we would want if we

could not speak for ourselves. We

should ask our loved ones in return

what type of care they would want to

have.

An advance directive is a vague term

for a really important concept. It is a

legally binding document that spells

out the type of care we do or do not

want to receive at the end of life. It

also gives us the ability to choose a

person we trust to speak on our behalf

if we can no longer do so ourselves.

Advance directives are not a one-

time decision. They can be changed

On Living and Dying Well

Advance Directives Checklist■■ Gather information on advance directives to become more

knowledgeable (attend advance directives workshop, review fact sheet, visit online resources).

■■ Decide what matters most in life.■■ Choose a medical decision maker.■■ Choose amount of flexibility for your decision maker.■■ Bring questions you might have of your doctor to your next visit. ■■ Bring a family member or friend who knows your wishes to the

doctor’s visit. ■■ At the start of your visit tell your doctor you have questions so he

or she has time to answer them.■■ Make sure you and your doctor understand each other.■■ Complete your advance directive in front of a required witness

(competent adult not related by blood).■■ Tell others about your wishes.■■ Give copy of advance directive to your health care agent, doctor,

and local hospital. Keep the original in a safe place at home.■■ Review your advance directive every 1-2 years.

Other resources:www.prepareforyourcare.orgwww.caringinfo.orgwww.polst.orgwww.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Support/advance-directives

at any time, and should be reviewed

throughout our lives.

Unsure where to start?Gather more information on advance

directives by talking with your health

care provider, a friend who has com-

pleted one, or by looking at some on-

line resources

Think about what matters most

in your life. Do you enjoy spend-

ing time with your family? Paint-

ing? Volunteering? Would you want

medical treatments if they prolonged

your life, but you were no longer able

to engage in these activities?

Next, think of someone you would

trust to make decisions on your be-

half if you were unable to do so. This

person may be a spouse, adult child,

friend, neighbor, or even your health

care provider. Talk to this person

about your health care wishes. Ask

them if they would be willing to act

as your health care agent. Do not as-

sume they know you want them to

do this. Choose how much flexibil-

ity you want them to have. Will they

make all decisions about your health

or will they simply relay instructions

you have given them?

Finally, fill out your state’s advance

directive form. Keep one copy for

yourself, give one to your health care

agent, and one to your health care

provider. Review it every couple of

years to make sure it reflects your

current wishes about health care at

the end of life.

In reality, most adults will not pass

away from an accident. Chronic

diseases, like heart disease, diabetes,

emphysema, and cancer are among

the most common causes of death.

Instead of avoiding discussions about

end of life care, we should be proac-

tive and begin talking about this sub-

ject so we know our wishes are clear

to our loved ones and health care pro-

viders.

Melissa Timm is earning her doctorate in

nursing practice at the University of Utah.

She will be graduating in May and working

in a primary care outpatient setting. Her

nursing career was spent caring for oncol-

ogy and ICU patients.

Heads up to women who en-

tered the workforce after

they raised their families,

immigrants, and other late entrants

into the U.S. workforce. Workers with

a history of part-time or low-compen-

sation employment who now enjoy

significantly higher pay should also

take heed.

If you’re considering retiring, keep in

mind Social Security’s two important

thresholds regarding length of em-

ployment: 10 and 35 years.

First, a worker must have employment

subject to FICA taxes in 40 quarters

(10 years) to receive any benefits at all.

Immigrants and other late entrants to

the Social Security system will benefit

greatly by continuing to work until the

40 quarter requirement is met. Even a

small benefit is a windfall in compari-

son with no benefit.

Second, Social Security determines

retirement benefits by looking at a

worker’s 35 years of highest earn-

ings. Beyond meeting the threshold

for minimum benefits, the next goal

is to create the best record possible

for calculation of the Primary Insur-

ance Amount (PIA), Social Security’s

mechanism to determine retirement

benefits.

A worker who qualifies for benefits

with the minimum 40 quarters (10

years) of earnings presents a record

with 25 years of zeros in the calcula-

tion of the PIA. With every year of

work, one of the zeros is replaced

with a positive number that will en-

hance the record. Continuing to work

could raise benefits significantly. For

example, if you have worked for 10

years with a salary of $10,000 a year

and decide to work for another year at

the same salary, you could receive an-

other $5,000 in benefits over the first

20 years of retirement.

This principle applies to many indi-

viduals who for any reason fall short

of 35 years of covered employment.

Examples are women who raised their

families before joining the workforce,

immigrants whose U.S. employment

covers only a part of their working

lives; and certain federal, state and lo-

cal workers.

Even for those who have worked more

than 35 years, the PIA will also increase

if current earnings are higher than the

earnings in some previous years. Be-

cause Social Security takes the 35 years

with highest earnings, continuing to

work could eliminate from the calcula-

tion years of low earnings. This could

easily be the case if you worked part

time in some of those 35 years.

Your Social Security Statement pro-

vides your work history so you can see

the years of low earnings that might

be replaced with higher earnings if

you continue to work. When you look

at this earnings record, you need to

be cautious, however, because Social

Security adjusts earnings in past years

for wage inflation. While your earn-

ings in the 1970s may look very low

next to what you are earning today,

keep in mind that those numbers are

adjusted in the Social Security calcula-

tion. For example, wages for 1974 will

be multiplied by a factor of more than

five when entered into the PIA calcu-

lation.

For some workers, the greatest benefit

of continued employment is that the

income makes it possible to delay

claiming Social Security benefits. In

that case, the bonus of waiting to claim

is that the amount of benefits will go

up by 8% each year beyond a worker’s

full retirement age until age 70.

Jeffrey B. Miller earned his doctorate

in economics from the University of

Pennsylvania in 1976 and taught at the

University of Delaware for 36 years.

In 2009 he co-founded Social Security

Choices, a firm that specializes in

providing customized information to assist

people in formulating their best strategies

for claiming Social Security benefits. If you

have a question, email him at questions@

vitalmagonline.com.

Another Reason to Push Off Retirement?

“We worked with someone from American Senior Benefits and boy am I glad we did. They helped us with our Medicare enrollment and Long Term Care planning. Last year, my wife had a stroke while we were on vacation. It was the hardest thing weʼve ever lived through. Sheʼs getting better now, but thereʼs no doubt we

were more prepared because of working with them.”

— Richard B., Greensboro, NC

Most people don’t plan to fail…

they fail to plan!

• Medicare Plans• Long Term Care Planning• Life Insurance/Income Replacement• Zero Risk Investments/Lifetime Income

You have questions and we have answers.

Call us today!

336-292-3875

AMERICAN SENIOR BENEFITS


COV E R S TO RY

What does Ashmore Rare Coins and Metals do?Ashmore Rare Coins and Metals is a multi-faceted business—no pun in-tended. First, we are a rare coin deal-er as well as a precious metals and diamond buyer. These are the main functions of the company. Addition-ally, we have solid expertise in other collectibles such as jewelry, watches, guns, and stamps. We try to help the customer understand the process they are going through. Selling a coin collection or a family’s heirlooms can be a confusing and somewhat pain-ful task and it is our job to make sure the customer is comfortable enough to do so. We have a very friendly and patient staff and we are known to pay the highest prices in this part of the country for the items we buy.

How long have you been in business?The business was started in March of 1988 as Ashmore, Incorporated. We do business as Ashmore Rare Coins and Metals today.

How did you get in to this business?This is a semi-complex answer to a simple question. I collected coins as a kid with my grandfather, as well as with my great aunts. I loved to rum-mage through change and hunt for particular dates of coins and it was a bonus to find silver. I collected until my interest in motorcycles, sports, girls, etc. took over in my teens.

When I got out of college, and got a job with an income, my passion was rekindled and I started collecting on a much higher level.

Back in the mid-1980’s I was work-ing for AT&T, traveling around the country doing site-surveys of Air Force Bases to put in new telecom-munications systems. I was consid-ering getting engaged and I began hunting a diamond. My background in physics and optics came in handy and I was completely intrigued with the study of diamonds and all their unique characteristics. I was spend-ing a good deal of time in San Fran-cisco and I met a couple of diamond dealers who really helped me get started with the business. I borrowed some money and enrolled in the Gemological Institute of America to become a Gemologist. For the first few years, my business was primarily diamonds and because of the 3-hour time difference between the east and west coast, I was able to conduct my business after normal hours.

In 1990, I was moved to Washing-ton, DC to work on a project with the Department of the Treasury. That is where I rekindled all the coin collect-ing and built it back into my busi-ness. I have been primarily a whole-sale dealer for these 26 years but in the last 5 it became necessary to have a “brick and mortar” location to do business, due to the explosion of the gold and silver market. The majority

of business we do is dealer-to-dealer even to this day, but the demand from the public made it mandatory for us to open our location at 5725 W. Friendly Avenue in Greensboro.

What is your favorite part or what do you enjoy the most?My favorite part of this business is the incredible diversity within what and whom we work. It is an absolute certainty that what we do tomorrow will be different from what we did today, and the people—wow! What an amazing array of personalities we see. It is truly something new ev-ery day. If you asked anyone on our staff, you would get the same an-swer. Now, I am a collector at heart and my passion is the US silver dol-lars from 1878 to 1935. If you are a collector of coins you will know that the true rarities of a series of coins are the die varieties with minute differ-ences from the others. Those coins are what I collect and what I enjoy most in the coin side of the business.

Is coin collecting still a big thing?Coin collecting is most certainly still a big thing, but it is quite dif-ferent from the 1950’s and 1960’s when virtually everyone had either a coin or stamp collection. Times have changed and the young of to-day are overwhelmed with the elec-tronic world. Coin collecting is still something kids get into; only those who do are far more likely to con-

tinue the hobby. With the Internet, it is so much easier to be directly tapped into the very finest auctions of coins, so for those who have the funds, it is easy to dive right in. That being said, I would recommend that anyone who is looking to make a substantial investment into coins get with someone like myself who is well established with the process and the people in the business, and can help you make decisions about what to buy. The 3-5% it will cost to have this expertise will most certainly save you a great deal of heartache and money in the long run, not to mention give you a route for disbursement or sale in the future.

What are some of the rarest coins today?One of the great things about coins is that the rarest coins today are the same as those of 2 generations ago. We know the mintages on the true rarities and there is good provenance on the coins of real importance, so the coins that are very rare now, will almost certainly continue to go up in value. The US Mint officially opened in 1793, so coins from the first couple years of operation are quite prized. Some of the perennial favorites are the uncirculated 1794 and 1804 sil-ver dollars, the 1913 Nickel, and the 1933 $20 St. Gaudens Gold. While these coins are out of reach (millions of dollars each!) for only the most well heeled collectors, there are rari-ties for almost any budget there is.

ASHMORERare Coins & Metals

How can someone begin a coin collection?Starting a coin collection is relatively straight forward, but some planning needs to be done. The first step is to decide what it is you are going to collect. There are literally thousands of different options available. Some

questions: What is your favorite coin? Is there a range of years that you like? How much can you afford to spend on coins? How long are you willing to wait until your collection is finished? All these questions and more will weigh into exactly what you should collect. It is always ad-visable to have an expert on the sub-ject on your “staff” to help you make the best decisions, if at all possible.

How can someone tell if they are being told the truth?Good question. I tell people that come into the shop that the most im-portant thing to do before you start doing business is to develop a “trust relationship.” In the coin/gold/diamond/collectibles business, this is an absolutely vital thing. Spend enough time with your dealer to be sure that he is giving you an educa-tion as you go along. Do some re-search after you meet to take the in-formation you’ve been given and see that what you understand is correct. When you are speaking with your dealer, if you feel like he is with-holding information or sidestepping issues, then you will most likely not have the trust relationship about which I am speaking. You should feel like you have a partnership with your dealer, in which you are getting as much as you can from the deal, with your dealer making a fair profit as well. It is completely reasonable to ask about percentages in this type business, as there are often very dif-ferent business models between dealers. Because our business was built on the wholesale model, we are quite used to very slim margins. We operate on as little overhead as pos-sible; so don’t expect marble floors and cherry cases when you come into

our establishment. What you can ex-pect is a great deal of security, so that everyone involved is safe.

We heard you give more for Gold and Silver than most other businesses in town. Is that true and if so, why?Well, actually, in practice, I believe we pay more than ANY other met-als dealer in the area. That is not to say that a particular store could not decide on a given day to pay full spot price for 14K gold and beat us for a day. Certainly that can, and has, happened. But, day in and day out we take note of what is being paid in the area for gold to the public and we try to maintain several percent above those numbers in payout. There are two sides to the gold business—deal-er-to-dealer and walk-in.

For the walk-in customer, by law, we must hold the precious metals for 7 days, and we are asked by Guilford County to hold it for 10 days—so we do. We have to report every trans-action to the authorities. This is a 10-day window in which we are ex-posed to the great fluctuations that can occur in the market. Gold and Silver have moved as much as 10-15% downward in a 10-day time in the last two years. Second, if the au-thorities question an item or items, they can have us put them on hold indefinitely, or even confiscate them completely. That can cause some un-pleasant losses. What all this adds up to is that for walk-in customers, we have to pay less than to dealers, but we still maintain a low overhead, and because we have great security, we have little losses due to problematic goods, so we can still pay more than other dealers in the area.

Are Precious Metals a good investment?Precious Metals are a good HEDGE. What that means is that if you have a portfolio full of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, Precious Metals will offset losses if your normal invest-ments drop in value. I am not a certi-fied financial planner nor do I aspire to be, but over the last,100 years or so, typically if the stock market goes down, gold goes up. And vice-versa.

Lately though, metals have been very flat because the market is being manipulated by big banks through

futures contracts. There is no way to say how long they can keep it up, but eventually it must hit the prover-bial “fan.” As much debt as we have amassed, one would think we should eventually have to have some infla-tion. This would indicate a rise in metals prices. Long term, I see Pre-cious Metals as a “blue chip” invest-ment.

Are you planning on adding any additional aspects to your business?Yes we are. First, we are expanding our diamond business. We are go-ing to be buying more aggressively in both the wholesale and walk-in business. We have been buying small stones (melee — .01 to .25 ct. stones) primarily across the counter in the

shop. We are training the staff to be able to go out on wholesale purchas-es to buy melee. We are going to be offering more money for the larger stones as well, as long as they are de-sirable stones. So many stones today are either too low a clarity grade or too low a color grade to be easily re-salable. For stones over .50ct, better than I1 clarity and better than J col-or, we will be much more aggressive going forward. If this is too much information, just bring them in—we can tell you what you have!

Finally, we are currently in the pro-cess of getting our Federal Firearms License. We are doing this primar-ily as a convenience for our custom-ers who have rifles and handguns in their estate and would like a more onestop shop for their collectible items. I have been a lifelong sports-man and a 30-year small time col-lector. We don’t expect this to be a primary part of our business going forward, but time can only tell. We are seeing quite a few Precious Met-als collectors who are quite involved in the gun market as well.

ASHMORE... the Triad’s Rare Find

THE FRIENDLY STAFF AT ASHMORE

Whenever we’ve asked around to find out who gives the most money for gold or who would know how much a coin is worth, all roads would lead to Ashmore Rare Coins and Metals in Greensboro. This month in Vital! we want to introduce you to Ash Harrison, his store and his amazing staff. No one knows more about coins and precious metals than these guys. They truly are the best.


1Paper begins its life as wood, ei-

ther from a tree that is newly

felled, or from wood scraps from

lumber processing (this is referred to

as pre-consumer waste). Paper that’s

made from all newly-felled wood,

rather than from any recycled mate-

rials, is called “virgin fiber paper.”

2The wood is processed into chips,

and then further processed into

pulp, a watery mush. In many cases

the pulp is then bleached using chlo-

rine, so that the final paper product

is a brighter color, like the bright

white paper available for printing at

home. Chlorine can be harmful to the

environment, so when buying paper

look for “Elemental Chlorine Free”

[ECF], “Processed Chlorine Free”

[PCF] or “Totally Chlorine Free”

[TCF], all of which indicate the use

of more benign chemicals than chlo-

rine—a definite check in the pro col-

umn.

3The pulp is then sprayed onto

screens, which allows the water

to drain off and the fibrous strands

to begin to bond to each other. The

mat that forms is then rolled, first be-

tween felt cylinders to remove more

water, and then through rollers that

further bond the fibers to each other

and create the uniform thinness of a

sheet of paper.

4Once the tree has been turned into

paper, it is rolled onto huge reels

and then transferred to a converter,

which trims the paper to various sizes

before distributing it to printers and

stores.

But wait! Paper’s life isn’t even close

to over yet. At this point in the cycle,

paper’s future lies in consumers’

(our!) hands.

5After the paper is purchased and

used, most of it ends up in the re-

cycling bin. Americans are pretty re-

sponsible when it comes to recycling

paper. Of all the paper consumed in

the U.S. in 2012, 65.1% was recov-

ered for recycling. That’s about 327

pounds of paper recovered for each

person in the U.S. Compare that to

only 8% of all plastic consumed re-

covered for recycling.

6Used paper is collected and then

taken to a recycling facility, where

it is separated by type (newspaper,

cardboard, office, etc.). Paper mills

then use the specific types of paper

to make different products—not just

more paper, but also masking tape,

bandages, car insulation, hospital

gowns, globes, and more.

The Secret Lifecycle of Recycled Paper

G O I N ’ G R E E N

Try as we might, we are far from being a paperless society. From sales receipts to instruction manuals to children’s homework, pa-per is an intrinsic part of our society. Fortunately, paper is fairly easy to recycle, and comes from a renewable (albeit slowly renew-able) resource. But do you really know where your paper comes from, and where it goes after you put it in the recycle bin? Here’s a look at the life of a typical sheet of paper, from the woods to your desk to your recycling bin, and back to a paper product again.

7Once separated, the paper is made

into pulp again, reverting the pa-

per to its original cellulose fibers.

The paper pulp is cleaned of contam-

inants like glue or staples by being

pushed through screens and spun in

centrifugal spinners.

8To remove the ink from paper

during the recycling process, the

pulp is put through washing and flo-

tation processes with a certain type

of soap. The ink, too, is often repur-

posed. It can be burned for energy or

used to make gravel.

9The recycled-paper pulp might

then be mixed with some virgin

fiber or sawdust from lumber mills,

which helps to make recycled papers

stronger and smoother.

Now the newly-recycled paper re-

enters the same cycle it went through

back when it was virgin-fiber paper:

10 (or 3!) The pulp mixture is

again sprayed onto screens,

dried, rolled, and delivered to differ-

ent distribution points. Paper made

from paper recycled by households -

not just paper-mill scraps - is called

“post-consumer waste [PCW] re-

cycled paper.”

Each time paper re-enters the cycle,

the fibers in the paper become a little

bit shorter and weaker. The fibers

from that first sheet of virgin-fiber

paper can usually go through the

recycling process up to seven times,

which means paper can have seven

lives.

So next time you open your newspa-

per, shove a sales receipt into your

wallet, or jot a note to your partner,

stop to think about the journey that

piece of paper has already been on —

and what’s in store when you recycle

paper right.

Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. Ware writes of the phenomenal clarity of vision that people gain at the end of their lives, and how we might learn from their wisdom. “When questioned about any regrets they had or any-thing they would do differently,” she says, “common themes surfaced again and again.” Among the top, from men in particular, is ‘I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.’

Choose HappinessHere are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Ware:

1I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself,

not the life others expected of me. “This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few real-ize, until they no longer have it.”

2I wish I hadn’t worked so hard. “This came from every

male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwin-

ners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the tread-mill of a work existence.”

3I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

“Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.”

4I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. “Often

they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giv-

ing friendships the time and ef-fort that they deserved. Every-one misses their friends when they are dying.”

5I wish that I had let myself be happier. “This is a sur-

prisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘com-fort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.”

Based on the response to this article, Bronnie has written a book titled The Top Five Regrets of the Dying—A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness. Choose NOW.

Look years younger with a beautiful smile

1126 North Church Street, Suite 100, Greensboro, NC 27401

phone: 336-272-3737 fax: 336-272-3742

www.mcmillianorthodontics.com

www.myfox8.com

Are you enjoying Vital!? For more on Successful Aging, watch

Linda Pritchett on the Fox8 Morning News, Wednesdays at 8:40.

Tune Up Your CarAnyone who goes out and buys a new hybrid car to prove how green they are is missing the point—a better way to live green is to keep your old jalopy as long as it’s practical, rather than en-couraging the manufacture of new cars (even if they get 45 miles to the gallon).

And as long as you’re hanging on to Bessie, keep that bucket of bolts as efficient as possi-ble by taking good green care of her. Regular tune-ups, smart tire maintenance and other basics of car care will keep the ol’ gal run-ning efficiently for years.

Turn Down Your ThermostatWhether you’re reading this in winter or summer, chances are there’s energy being used to control the temperature in your room. Try turning the thermo-stat one direction or another, and you not only will save ener-gy, but you’ll reap the savings of

a lower energy bill. (And as long as you’re up, why not switch off a light or two?)

Green CleanThere are dozens of alternatives to household cleaning products that contain chlorine bleach, ammonia and other industrial chemicals. You can shop for green cleaners that contain few, if any, harmful ingredients, or you can easily make your own homemade cleaners—and for a fraction of what you’d spend on commercial products.

Take a WalkThis is perhaps one of the sim-plest and most pleasant ways to go green—just put one foot in front of the other. Outdoor activity has proven benefits, so whether you stroll around the block, take the stairs at work, or just drink in the scenery on a long hike, you’re helping to cut down on energy use while stay-ing in shape.

4 Simple Ways to “Go Green”


WO R D S O F W I S D O M

Be thankful for the bad things in life. For they opened your eyes to the good things you weren’t paying attention to before!

C A R E G I V E R ’S CO R N E R

The Perryman House• Residential Care for Seniors

with Memory Loss

• Lovely neighborhood is convenient to Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and High Point

• One dementia trained CNA/Caregiver for every Two residents

• Personalized Daily Activities

• Registered Nurse, Medical Doctor, and NCCAP Certifi ed Activity Professional on Staff

• We accept Private Pay and Long Term Health Care Insurance

• NC licensed family care home

• A great alternative to large facilities

Contact: KATHY HATFIELD, The Almost Home Group (336) 391-5638 [email protected]

www.almosthomegroup.com

By Sally Williams

If you’re caring for someone

with dementia, you’re continu-

ally losing pieces of your loved

one. Educating yourself about the

illness and preparing yourself for

the pain of loss doesn’t minimize

your feelings of grief. It may help,

however, to understand the phases

of grief that you may experience.

1Unfolding Grief In some cases,

dementia may progress rapidly,

but Alzheimer’s disease can be a

long and insidious disease, with life

span extending 2- 20 years from

time of diagnosis. Unfolding grief

comes as you experience the many

additional losses caused by the ef-

fects of the person’s dementia. For

instance, not only are you slowly

losing a parent, spouse or friend,

you’re also losing the role of daugh-

ter, son, wife, husband, or friend,

along with the relationship that you

had prior to the diagnosis. You may

be losing the spouse who handles

all the household fi nances, or the

mother who loves to make Christ-

mas cookies with you, or the father

who works on your car or projects

around the house.

2Anticipatory Grief A caregiver

experiences anticipatory grief

with every passing day, knowing

that there is inevitable death ahead.

Sometimes there is a deep regret

that no matter how well you care

for your loved one, he or she is fac-

ing the sunset of his or her life. It

is normal to experience regret and

guilt, not only when you wish this

person would be relieved of his or

her suff ering, but also when you

have expectations of someday be-

ing released from your role as the

care provider.

3Acute Grief It can be agonizing

to watch the dying process as

the body shuts down. Acute grief

comes as the physical death takes

place and you face the fi nality that

your loved one is gone. A combina-

tion of guilt and relief come from

anticipatory grief and acute grief.

The situation is often compounded

by painful emotions and the losses

of the caregiver’s role and sense of

identity. There are also many peaks

and valleys in the magnitude of

grief that we feel.

It’s normal to experience the fol-

lowing emotions:

■ After the loss, you may feel un-

comfortable or afraid to show joy

because it seems to be dishonor-

ing the person you have lost, or

because you’re worried about

how others will perceive you if

you don’t behave in the manner

they think is appropriate.

■ You might feel badly because

deep down you’re relieved that

you’re now fi nished with a very

frustrating and unhappy role

into which you were thrust.

■ Alternately, you might have

found caregiving to be very re-

warding, off ering unexpected

closeness and treasured times

with your loved one. Now that

The Three Phases of Grief in Dementia Carehe or she is gone, you may feel

empty. Some people may try to

encourage you to “move on”

or “be thankful that your loved

one is in a better place” or assure

you that “this is a blessing; they

were suff ering” and that “time

heals.” Realize that there will

be days when you you want to

avoid contact with other people

just so you will not have to listen

to their “helpful” advice.

People’s grieving experiences may

have similar emotions, but every

journey is diff erent. Do not treat

the grief that you are experienc-

ing as an illness or weakness.

Grief is a normal and necessary

response to collective loss. Grief

is not the price we pay for loving

someone…it is a natural and in-

escapable part of being a human

being.

If you’re struggling to care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other challenges with aging, we can help.

“Mom’s getting more confused. She forgot to eat again.”

“What if she wanders off? That would be horrible.”

“We need to keep her safe at home. We need more help.”

HomeInstead.com/311336.294.0081

The World Health Organization now recognizes the global epidem-ic of Alzheimer’s disease and other

types of dementia as a public health priority. It is estimated that 36 million people worldwide live with dementia, with numbers affected doubling every 20 years, to reach 115 million by 2050. The societal cost is enormous to the tune of $604 billion in the US alone in 2010, according to Alzheimer’s disease International estimates.

With an estimated 7.7 million new cases each year, dementia prevention is an urgent priority, both to reduce inci-dence and slow the progression of the condition.

The health of your brain depends on many factors. While some, such as ge-netics, are out of your control, many strongly influential ones are within your, and actually only your, control.

The six primary influencers are:1. Regular exercise2. Healthy diet3. Mental stimulation4. Quality sleep

5. Stress management6. An active social life

The stronger each of these are in daily life, the healthier your brain will be.

Research shows that the second factor, healthy diet, can have a tremendous impact on prevention as well as help-ing to slow down, or even reverse the deterioration for those who have Al-zheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

Ever filled your car with cheap or sub-standard gasoline? The engine knocks and doesn’t perform well. The same is true for our bodies which includes our brains. The better the fuel, or nutri-tion, the better the performance. Here are six tips on how to use nutrition as a prevention tool:

Eat the rainbow: Fruits and vegeta-bles across the color spectrum maxi-mize protective antioxidants and vi-tamins. Daily servings of berries and green leafy vegetables are an important part of a brain healthy diet.

Follow a Mediterranean diet. A

Mediterranean diet is notoriously heart healthy and is equally brain healthy. A Mediterranean diet is defined as being rich in fish, nuts, whole grains, olive oil, and abundant fresh produce.

Danger! Danger! Research shows that the most dangerous fats are saturated and trans fats. Processed and fast foods also fall within this danger zone. Avoid full-fat dairy products, red meat, fast food, fried foods, and packaged and processed foods.

FISH is good food. Evidence sug-gests that omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Good options include cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel, and sardines. You can also supplement with fish oil.

Eat small & more, instead of lots and less. Maintaining consistent blood sugar levels is good for your brain. In addition, avoid white flour and refined carbohydrates which are high in sugar. These cause glucose lev-els to spike very quickly and inflame your brain.

Drink your tea! Drinking green tea on a regular basis slows brain aging and may enhance memory and mental alertness. Oolong and white teas are also very good for your brain. Drinking 2-4 cups daily has proven benefits. Al-though not as powerful as tea, drinking coffee also helps your brain.

Can’t I just take my vitamins? Folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D, magne-sium, and fish oil are believed to pre-serve and improve brain health. Studies of vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, coenzyme Q10, and turmeric have yielded less conclusive results, but may also be beneficial in the prevention or delay of Alzheimer’s and dementia symptoms. But remember, these need to be taken as a supplement to the real thing (nutri-tious food) not as a substitute.

Home Instead Senior Care is the world’s largest provider of compassionate, reli-able one-on-one, non-medical assistance. The Greensboro, NC Home Instead Se-nior Care office is located at 4615 Dun-das Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407. You may reach them at 336-294-0081 or visit their website at www.homeinsteadsenior-care/311.

Nutrition as Prevention?


H AV E S O M E F U N

Crossword By Dave Fisher

ACROSS

1. Requests

5. Anagram of “Doles”

10. Awestruck

14. Creative work

15. Representative

16. Affirm

17. Re-beautify

19. Departed

20. Pair

21. Pee

22. High society

23. Helps

25. Bedouin

27. Operative

28. Cuisine

31. Aquatic mammals

34. Pizazz

35. Prefix meaning “Modern”

36. Adhesive strip

37. Muse of love poetry

38. Stigma

39. Clairvoyant’s gift

40. Hag

41. Office worker

42. Over a 7 day period

44. Genus of macaws

45. Not the most

46. Unyielding

50. Leered

52. Extols

54. Not high

55. Harvest

56. A language of India

58. Initial wager

59. Prank

60. Portent

61. Lascivious look

62. “Beau ___”

63. Memo

DOWN

1. Heart artery

2. Expels

3. Praise

4. South southeast

5. Flashy

6. German iris

7. Give temporarily

8. Mitigate

9. Coloring agent

10. Type of sleeve

11. Evasion

12. Confined

13. Tall woody plant

18. Points

22. Arab chieftain

24. Small island

26. Hodgepodge

28. A loud resonant noise

29. Back

30. An English royal house

31. Goulash

32. “___ on Down the Road”

33. Court of appeals

34. First rate

37. God of love

38. Close violently 40. Attired

41. Boorish

43. Custodian

44. Bear witness

46. A financial examination

47. San Antonio fort

48. A nine-piece musical group

49. String

50. By mouth

51. Heredity unit

53. Picnic insects

56. Witch

57. 2,000 pounds

Answers on page 13

©www.mirroreyes.com

ROASTED SWEET POTATO BLACK BEAN

BURRITOS

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo the healthy way! This recipe is great as a make-ahead freezer meal. Prep once, eat twice!

The process is really simple and the recipe is very fl exible. Substitute vegetables to suit your tastes or what you have on hand. Don’t have black beans? Try pinto beans.

INGREDIENTS• 2 small sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped small• 1 onion, peeled and chopped• 1 red pepper, chopped• 1 small can diced green chiles• 1 tablespoon olive oil• 1 teaspoon chili powder• 1 teasoon smoked paprika• 1 teaspoon ground cumin• salt and pepper• 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained• ¼ cup chopped cilantro• 1 lime, juiced• 8 whole wheat tortillas• 2 cups shredded cheese

DIRECTIONS1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix together sweet potatoes, onion, red

pepper, chiles, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil.

2. Spread vegetables on a large baking pan. Bake for 425 degrees for approximately 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

3. Remove roasted vegetables, stir in black beans, cilantro and lime juice.4. Lay out a tortilla, scoop approximately 1/4 cup vegetable mixture

onto the center of tortilla. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and roll up. Repeat with remaining tortillas and toppings.

5. Preheat large skillet over medium-high heat. Spray with non-stick spray. Place tortillas in skillet (seam-side down).

6. Cook tortillas until golden brown. Flip until both sides are crispy.

*To freeze: Prepare the burritos, stopping before cooking. Place the uncooked burritos in a resealable bag and freeze. To reheat, thaw then cook in skillet until golden brown.ORPrepare completely. Freeze after cooking. To reheat, microwave for 2-3 minutes or until hot.

Answers on page 13

Sudoku Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each 3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 thru 9.

(courtesy of KrazyDad.com)

THE FUNNY THE FUNNY BONEBONEHoly Humor

There was a very gracious lady who was mailing an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the country.

“Is there anything breakable in here?” asked the postal clerk.

“Only the Ten Commandments.” answered the lady.

“Somebody has said there are only two kinds of people in the world. There are those who wake up in the morning and say, “Good morning, Lord,” and there are those who wake up in the morning and say, “Good Lord, it’s morning.”

A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was short of time and couldn’t find a space with a meter.

Then he put a note under the windshield wiper that read: “I have circled the block 10 times. If I don’t park here, I’ll miss my appointment. Forgive us our trespasses.”

When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this note “I’ve circled this block for 10 years. If I don’t give you a ticket I’ll lose my job. Lead us not into temptation.”

Sunday after church, a Mom asked her very young daughter what the lesson was about.

The daughter answered, “Don’t be scared, you’ll get your quilt.”

Needless to say, the Mom was perplexed. Later in the day, the pastor stopped by for tea and the Mom asked him what that morning’s Sunday school lesson was about.

He said “Be not afraid, thy comforter is coming.”

While driving in Pennsylvania , a family caught up to an Amish carriage. The owner of the carriage obviously had a sense of humour, because attached to the back of the carriage was a hand printed sign... “Energy efficient vehicle: Runs on oats and grass. Caution: Do not step in exhaust.”

A Sunday School teacher began her lesson with a question, “Boys and girls, what do we know about God?”

A hand shot up in the air. “He is an artist!” said the kindergarten boy.

“Really? How do you know?” the teacher asked.

“You know – Our Father, who does art in Heaven... “

In Honor of MothersThe moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~Rajneesh

A mother understands what a child does not say. ~Author Unknown

Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. ~Author Unknown

You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around — and why his parents will always wave back. ~William D. Tammeus

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty

16 M AY /J U N E 2 0 1 4

In our 25 years of serving the Triad area, we’ve learned that living well is an art to be enjoyed. As the only monthly rental communities in the Triad offering a progression of care, it’s good to know that wherever life’s journey takes you, with Kisco Senior Living, you have a place to call home.

Come see us!American Heart Association’s Go Red for WomenTM, Education Expo & Luncheon on May 5, 2014 at Koury Convention Center.

ENJOY THEART OF LIVING WELLSM

888.262.6365 888.250.5235www.LifeatIrvingPark.com www.LifeatHeritageGreens.com

Spring fever—It’s that restless

feeling inside where you sud-

denly feel revitalized, energetic,

yearning for passion and that some-

thing that you just can’t quite qualify.

It might not technically be a medical

condition, but the sudden change in

weather, longer days and more sun-

shine do have a very tangible and

physiological impact on our bodies.

Not only do we experience longer

days when we change the clocks for

daylight savings time, but the change

in seasons, marked by the vernal

equinox on March 20, prompts a

readjustment in the body’s internal

chemistry. In fact, that’s when the

population as a whole starts to report

a higher energy level, decreased sleep,

reduced eating and an alleviation of

depression.

What’s Happening InsideJust as your body’s reveling in

soaking in the sun, our brains are

busy processing the bright light as

well. The increased sunshine signals

the body to produce less melatonin,

which plays an important role in

sleep. “There’s more daylight, so

people have more energy, sleep a

little less,” says Sanford Auerbach,

M.D., director of the Sleep Disorders

Center at Boston University. With

less melatonin pumping through

your veins, you may also feel a lift in

your mood and a more revved-up sex

drive.

Another chemical change that seems

to occur during the transition to

spring is an increase in serotonin.

A 2008 study found that in the fall

and winter, there is a greater level of

what’s known as serotonin transport-

er in the brain, which removes more

serotonin than during the spring and

summer.

Known for its role in mood, sero-

tonin is likely involved in that sud-

den happiness and lust for life we

feel in springtime, according to the

Los Angeles Times. It may also ac-

count for the increase in energy that

makes some people feel restless and

distracted, just itching to spend time

outdoors.

Likewise, people also experience an

increase in the release of endorphins

and hormones such as testosterone

and estrogen. This explains why

people feel a sudden increase in their

energy and sexual appetite by the

time March and April roll around.

What’s Happening OutsideSome would argue it’s not just hor-

mones at work, but that there’s an-

other possible reason people are hap-

pier. With more time spent outdoors

on a sunny day, it’s likely you’re log-

ging extra hours exercising.

Of course exercise itself has mood-

enhancing powers. Couple that with

a healthy dose of vitamin D and it’s

all the reason you need to delight in

lingering sunshine, warm breezes

and bare legs.

Spring (Fever) Is In The Air!

“It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want—oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”

—Mark Twain

ashmoreashmore - vital! magazine® · 2 may/june 2014 3 ts® 2013 ammed! y age 13 age 10 age 3p3 fe...

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